South Central - Region 3: Benton, Franklin, Kittitas, & Yakima Counties.

This recruitment will be posted until June 2, 2024 - application review is ongoing, submit your application materials as soon as possible. This recruitment may be closed at any time.

Provide strategic leadership, management, and direction to the regional habitat program team.

Engage and facilitate cross-program and regional coordination, collaboration and provide leadership in Regional and Senior Management Teams. 

 Build and maintain cooperative working relationships with tribal and federal entities, state and local jurisdictions, renewable energy industry, and many other entities in matters relating to habitat resource protection and restoration. 

Sunrise at L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Kittitas County – Region 3 – Photo Credit: WDFW

In this dynamic and critical role, 

You will set the tone, culture, and the safe productive work atmosphere for the regional team - ultimately being responsible for the team’s success.

Directly manage activities in habitat program areas of authority, 

This will include Aquatic Systems Regulatory Services, Salmon Recovery, Priority Habitat and Species, Growth and Shoreline Management, Renewable Energy, Forest Habitats, Watershed Management, and program administration.

With your experience and knowledge, you are excited to, 

Represent agency policy to the public for the protection of fish and wildlife resources while simultaneously providing field-level and public perspective to headquarters staff for guidance in the development of agency policy and procedures.

Build a culture of collaboration and teamwork, 

On the regional and senior management teams by holding self and others accountable to behaving consistent with the agency ASPIRE values: accountability, service, professionalism, integrity, respect, and empathy.

Wenas Wildlife Area – Yakima County Region 3 – Photo Credit: WDFW 

Here is what you will be doing as our Regional Habitat Program Manager, 

• Plan, lead, organize and manage the work performed by the regional habitat team.
• Create and foster a growing culture of safety in the regional program through active support, engagement with safety teams, leading through example, and providing consistent exposure to safety related topics and issues relative to the regional team.
• Plan for and actively manage the budget allocated to the Region.
• Coach and direct staff working in partnership with various county, state and federal fish and wildlife protection regulations and agreements to achieve protection and restoration needs consistent with statewide best practices.
• Participate in the negotiations for developing mitigation agreements for unavoidable adverse impacts resulting from major development projects in the region.
• Oversee the regional implementation of WDFW’s authority under: RCW 77.55, which includes issuance of Hydraulic Project Approvals. Oversee implementation of WDFW authority under RCW 77.57 – fish passage, and approval of compliance actions under both statutes.
• Set priorities within the region for the achievement of the Agency’s goals, objectives, and Strategic Plan.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  1. 75% of the time at meetings conducting general management and coordination activities or in the office reviewing or creating documents, writing memos, responding to emails, and answering phone inquiries.
  2. 25% of the time is in the field occasionally in rough weather conditions, traveling throughout the region or participating in evening meetings.
• Schedule:
  1. Monday – Friday – 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Travel Requirements:
  1. Periods of overnight travel may be required, and work hours may exceed the standard workday.
• Tools and Equipment:
  1. Computer, phone, laser level and other field equipment as needed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

AND 

• Five (5) years of experience supervising professional staff.
  1. Consisting of progressive management experience with managerial skills for managing a group of professional level staff.

Competencies: 

• Proven ability to manage programs, policies, and procedures.
• Demonstrated effective negotiation skills.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Proven ability to clearly communicate with management, regulatory bodies, and employees.

Please Note: Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following: 

Experience: 

• Five (5) years of experience supervising professional staff.
• Demonstrated proficiency in managing a complex budget.

Knowledge of: 

• State and federal statutes and administrative rules, including knowledge of the Hydraulic Code and Growth Management Act and their implementation in relation to protection of fish and wildlife resources.
• Fresh water and terrestrial ecology and natural resource management of the Columbia Basin. 
• Principles of stream dynamics and aquatic resource needs and impact analysis from development. 
• Technical knowledge of biology and life history of fish and wildlife species in Washington State.

Competencies: 

• Ability to take interest in and understand others' perspectives; easily recognize when others have important information, perspectives, or ideas; demonstrate appropriate assertiveness; and be committed to the service of the public, mission, and team.
• Effectively analyze, develop, and manage program and contract budgets.
• Evaluate problems and develop recommendations to improve organizational and/or procedural efficiency.
• Interpret agency rules and regulations.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude and create collaborative relationships with a high level of emotional intelligence.

Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.

Experience and education selected, listed, and detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable in the application.

In order to successfully apply for this position, you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.govand attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

• A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
• A current resume. 
• Three professional references. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

JOIN THE WDFW TEAM:

Learn about our agencyand the perksof working for WDFW!

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field. We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency’s mission. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

WDFW employees may be eligible for the following: Benefits

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave types. 

Eleven (11) Paid Holidays per year and one (1) personal holiday if the employee is scheduled to be, or has been, continuously employed by the State of Washington for at least four (4) months. 

Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), and an Employee Assistance Program.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to kaila.daudt@dfw.wa.gov.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and Vet (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE NOTICE: 

To take advantage of military spouse preference, please do the following:

• Notify us of your military spouse status by email at kaila.daudt@dfw.wa.gov. 
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – MS)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Note: Please blackout any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. 

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.

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